Berry Elementary School

School Contact Information

4 years as a elementary school principal
1 year as a community liaison
2 years as a high school assistant principal
Teacher

* I Am Available to Mentor Other Green School Honor Roll Members.

The Green School Story

We addressed these 4 Pillars of a Green School

Strive to be Toxics Free

Use Resources Sustainably

Create Green Schoolyards and Serve Healthy Food

Teach Stewardship & Student Action

We have taken these steps from the 7 Steps to a Green School

Establish a green team

Adopt a policy

Do a school Environmental audit

Develop an action plan

Integrate into the curriculum

Monitor progress

Involve, inform, and celebrate with the community

Environmental Challenge or Goal Addressed

Our school is an environmental magnet school. Our goal is for students to learn about the environment by doing, so they will become advocates for the environment and so they will seek green careers.

Our Green School Approach

We are opening a new school in May. It has been design to be green Silver. We are certified Energy Star. The building has not only been designed to be green but to teach green.

Changes and Benefits We've Achieved

In the past 4 years we have taught an environmental curriculum, every grade level has a theme, our science fair is integrated to environmental science. Our 4th grade students are in charge or recycling, our 3rd grade students are plastic bottle police, we don't use bottled water, every classroom has a water filter. Our students are involved in planting (although we had to stop because of our new school). The plans for the new school are incredible.

Our Team

Teacher, science team, a magnet coordinator and the administration

How We Involved Students

All students are involved. Each grade level has a theme and are in charge of a project. Kinder students walk around checking for lights on, 2nd grade follows the weather and learns about wind energy, the 3rd graders learn about water, water pollution, plastic bottles, 4th grade is in charge of recycling and 5th graders are learning about different sources of energy.

Our Timeline for Change

We have been working on it for 4 years, but now with the new school the efforts are going to double.

Our Inspiration and Motivation

Our magnet program and all the issues with the environment.

Moving Forward

Our new building will have many opportunities to live green. Every grade level will be planting and cultivating. we will use collected rain water to irrigate the gardens. We are working with our city so that our community can plan a community garden and working with farmer market to come to our school. We are looking for different partnerships to helps us finish the pods in our school that will act as a childrens museum ( we will have the energy pod, the water pod ,earth pod etc). Each pod ( will help from outside funders) will have hands on activities for students to learn. They will also serve as a project presentation hall so all students can learn. If you are interest in learning more about our plans I can send our writing documents of what we are doing.

Our Advice to Other Schools

Hire teachers who have a passion for the environment, it makes it easier than having to train people.